Kay Taylor

Determined residents who have been fighting to improve road safety on their street are celebrating a victory this week - but say more still needs to be done.

People living in Longmeanygate, Leyland, have been campaigning for years for traffic calming measures and a reduced speed limit on the 60mph stretch of road.

Now, after carrying out a traffic survey, Lancashire County Council has agreed that slashing the speed limit is the way to go.

Paul Dunne, highways manager for South Ribble, said: “The traffic counts on the section of Longmeanygate which is currently derestricted showed the range of speed for most drivers was between 35mph to 45mph.

“Following discussions with the police we’re proposing to reduce the speed limit on the derestricted section to 40mph and will be holding a formal consultation shortly.

“We’re also proposing to improve road signs and lines to make drivers more aware of their speed and approaching bends.

“This is currently at the design stage and we’re working towards putting the scheme in place during the summer.”

But homeowners Nick Berry and Stuart Duffield, who have fronted the campaign along with South Ribble MP Lorraine Fullbrook, say the proposals don’t go far enough.

Longmeanygate was closed for 16 months from April 2013 after a drunk-driver smashed into Mr Duffield’s house, making the building unstable.

Mr Duffield said: “It’s good that LCC is jumping down by 20mph after all the pressure we’ve been putting on them.

“We do think more is needed though; we need something to enforce that speed limit. We feel like they’re giving us the bare minimum.

“We want a roundabout at the Midge Hall junction, as well as lighting and footpaths.

“The council can’t ignore this any longer.”

Mr Berry added: “They’ve put a new ‘bend’ sign up, which is useless really, but I suppose it helps them meet their obligations.

“We feel that the council is reluctant to introduce traffic calming measures because of the proposed development of the Moss Side Test Track.

“This has been going on for a long time now and the bottom line is that the road has been re-open since July and we still haven’t seen any real changes.”

The former Leyland Motors test track site has been identified in South Ribble Council’s Local Development Framework as being suitable to accommodate 850 houses, a business park, industrial estate, playing fields and playgrounds, and a Neighbourhood Centre including a shop, restaurant, pub and newsagent.

The indicative plan states that access will be provided to the test track from Paradise Lane and Titan Way, including secondary or emergency access from Longmeanygate.